Male monarch butterflies, Danaus plexippus, adjust ejaculates in response to intensity of sperm competition

M. J. Solensky, K. S. Oberhauser

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

22 Scopus citations

Abstract

During mating, male Lepidoptera transfer spermatophores that consist of accessory gland material, eupyrene (nucleated) sperm and apyrene sperm that is incapable of fertilizing eggs. Sexual selection theory predicts that males should allocate these materials strategically based on the risk and intensity of sperm competition. We studied the relationship between behavioural and physiological cues and material allocation by male monarch butterflies, Danaus plexippus. Males that had waited longer between matings transferred larger spermatophores and more apyrene and eupyrene sperm. Eupyrene sperm number was also correlated with female mating history, with males transferring more sperm to females that had larger amounts of spermatophore material stored from previous mates, regardless of whether this came from one or three mates. This result suggests that males use stored ejaculates to assess female mating history and increase eupyrene sperm investment under increased sperm competition intensity. Male monarchs appear to be capable of independently manipulating the different components of their ejaculates. Ejaculate allocation patterns suggest that males benefit by maximizing spermatophore size and apyrene sperm number, possibly to delay future female remating. However, males allocate more eupyrene sperm to females when sperm competition is more intense, which is consistent with predictions from recent sperm competition models.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)465-472
Number of pages8
JournalAnimal Behaviour
Volume77
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2009

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We thank Lynette Batte, Anja Brunet-Rossinni, Jennifer Brophy, Reba Batalden, Bruce Leventhal, Sara Brinda, Amy Alstad, Leah Alstad, Andy Regan, Kevin Spragg, Beth DeLong, Amy Smith and Evan Slanczka for their assistance in rearing and observing monarchs and counting sperm. Andy Davis provided valuable advice on digitally measuring adult butterfly size. This work was supported by Monarchs in the Classroom and the Life Science Summer Undergraduate Research Program at the University of Minnesota and by the Sophomore Research Program and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Summer Research Scholar Program at The College of Wooster.

Keywords

  • Danaus plexippus
  • apyrene sperm
  • eupyrene sperm
  • mate assessment
  • monarch butterfly
  • sperm competition
  • sperm transfer
  • spermatophore
  • strategic mating effort

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